What is this project about?

Vicarage Field is an important part of Hailsham town centre, located between the High Street and Vicarage Lane. It provides a range of shops, services, leisure facilities and public spaces, as well as an important pedestrian link between the town centre and surrounding car parks and area.

We are exploring improvements to both the public spaces and shopping centre buildings to ensure Vicarage Field remains an attractive, welcoming and vibrant destination for residents, businesses and visitors

This project is not a redevelopment of the area and does not seek to change the character of Hailsham. Instead, the proposals aim to build on what already works well, improve the quality of the environment and better reflect the town's historic character.

Why are improvements being considered?

While Vicarage Field remains a well-used part of the town centre, some areas have become dated and would benefit from investment. Current challenges include:

• Ageing building materials and elements requiring repair.
• Inconsistent paving, street furniture and public realm features.
• Limited planting and greenery.
• Opportunities to improve accessibility and pedestrian movement.
• Views towards important heritage assets being affected by street cutter and layout.

The proposals aim to enhance the appearance and functionality of the area while respecting the historic setting of nearby heritage assets, including the War Memorial, St Mary's Church and other listed buildings within the Hailsham Conservation Area.

What is being proposed?

The project has two main elements:

Public Realm Improvements

Proposals for the public spaces around Vicarage Field include:

• Upgraded paving and landscaping
• New trees and rain gardens to introduce more greenery
• Improved seating and lighting
• Enhanced pedestrian routes and accessibility
• A more flexible and attractive town square that can better support markets, events and everyday use

Building Improvements

Works to the existing shopping centre buildings could include:

• Replacement windows and external cladding
• Improvements to canopies and building facades
• New lighting
• Repairs and maintenance to improve the appearance and longevity of the buildings

Expected Benefits

The proposals seek to:

• Create a more welcoming and accessible town centre
• Support local businesses and visitors
• Improve the appearance and condition of Vicarage Field
• Provide better spaces for community events and markets
• Introduce more planting, shade and widlife-friendly features
• Improve seating and places to spend time
• Enhance the setting of nearby heritage assets

Consultation Closed
Thank you to everyone who took part in the public consultation on the proposed Vicarage Field improvements. Over 140 responses were received, with the majority of respondents supporting the proposals. The feedback received will be used to help refine the scheme as it progresses to the next stage.

What happens next?

The consultation has now closed and all feedback is being reviewed. The results show broad support for the proposed improvements, alongside valuable comments and suggestions from residents, businesses and visitors. All feedback will be reviewed and considered as part of the final review of the proposals before a planning application is submitted. Not all suggestions can be incorporated, as the proposals must also satisfy planning, heritage, technical, accessibility and budget requirements.

A planning application is expected to be submitted later this summer.

Should planning permission be granted, further information about the delivery of the improvements will be shared in due course.